Social media background searches have become an essential part of the hiring process. They can vary in scope from a simple Google search to an in-depth scan of public profiles and blogs.
A social media background check can reveal much about a person’s personality and behavior. It can also provide a glimpse into their personal life and whether they are a good fit for the company.
1. What is a Social Media Background Check?
A social media background check allows employers to learn more about candidates beyond what they can find on their resumes. It’s usually done after interviews and can provide helpful information about candidates.
Some companies may quickly scan a candidate’s public profile on the biggest social media websites. It is a common practice that can reveal much about the candidate and give insight into how they might fit in with the company’s culture.
While some people use social media to share their personal lives indiscriminately, others are more careful in portraying themselves on these platforms. For example, they may not post anything that could damage the company’s reputation, or they may not share information that would be inappropriate for their job.
This kind of behavior could be more conducive to a productive work environment, and it can also lead to legal issues down the road. Employers rely on social media background checks to help them make hiring decisions.
The first step is to look at the person’s profile and see if any other accounts use the same name. If there is, try to find out who that might be. It will give you a better idea of who you’re dealing with and whether it’s worth bringing in a background check for the job.
Another essential factor to consider is the type of social media background search you want to perform. For example, having a professional do the check might be more helpful if you’re looking to hire someone with a very high-level position. It will ensure that you don’t have any bias in your hiring decision and that you can get a more accurate picture of the candidate.
2. How Does a Social Media Background Check Work?
In recent years, more employers have begun using social media background checks to evaluate job applicants. These background checks can efficiently weed out candidates that aren’t a good fit for the company or are likely to be abusive or violent at work.
However, these screenings can be dangerous if done improperly. They can reveal private information about a candidate that can lead to discrimination or harassment lawsuits and can also violate state and federal freedom of speech laws.
To keep your hiring process legal, you must do social media background searches in compliance with local and federal laws. In addition, it requires disclosure in an authorization release form and giving candidates pre-adverse action notices if they uncover concerning information.
You must also choose who will conduct your social media background search and ensure that the person has no bias toward the applicant. Again, having someone outside your HR department is a good idea, as they will be less biased and better understand the information you’re looking for.
The best thing to do is to find a third-party company that offers social media background checks. It will save you time and money and ensure your search is conducted promptly.
When deciding to run a social media background check, the most important things to consider are your company’s goals and available resources. These can vary from company to company, so you’ll need to decide which positions are best suited for screening and what type of technology is necessary to perform the search.
Another essential factor to consider is your company’s culture. It can be challenging to assess a candidate’s personality through their online activities, so it’s necessary to consider their values and beliefs during your evaluation.
3. How Can a Social Media Background Check Help Me?
Social media background checks can help employers understand an applicant’s personality and values. In addition, it can give them a better idea of whether they will fit in with the company culture and work well with their co-workers.
Employers use this method to ensure that candidates are not engaging in harmful or inappropriate behaviors on their social media accounts. It can help them avoid hiring someone who may risk the company’s reputation or safety and save them time and money.
4. Benefits of a Social Media Background Check
Social media background checks are used to assess the online presence of a job applicant, as well as their professional network. Therefore, they can be a valuable tool in finding out what someone is like before you decide to hire them.
Some employers conduct social media background searches on all applicants, while others may only use them for positions that deal directly with the public. A candidate’s public profile can indicate their demeanor and potential fit with the company culture more than their private profile, which is more relevant to back-end staff who do not work closely with the public.
When you do a background search on someone, it can give you information about their criminal history and any other adverse events that could impact your hiring decisions. As a result, it makes it easier to identify candidates who may not be a good match for the job and avoid making potentially damaging hiring mistakes.
Moreover, some people may feel that this type of background check is an invasion of their privacy. Those concerned about this might choose to have the check conducted by a third party rather than doing it in-house.
Many employers use social media background searches, but they should be done carefully to avoid discrimination and other legal ramifications.
